Matt Mullenweg Reinstated as Automattic CEO After Brief Ouster

Founder and CEO Matt Mullenweg was reinstated as chairperson and CEO of Automattic after a brief power struggle with the company's board of directors. The conflict began on September 9, when the board voted to place Mullenweg on a paid leave of absence and appointed Chief Financial Officer Mark Davies as interim CEO.

Mullenweg resisted the move, alleging that Davies and other board members, including Bluesky CEO Toni Schneider, conspired against him. During the dispute, Mullenweg regained control of the company's Slack workspace, removed administrators, and posted messages to employees claiming he was "a pirate now."

Automattic officially confirmed Mullenweg's return by September 12, stating he was away for only 33 hours and 20 minutes and now possesses the full support of the board. While Mary Hubbard, the Executive Director of WordPress, expressed relief and confidence in his return, some members of the broader WordPress community remained skeptical. Reports also indicated that Toni Schneider may have stepped down from the board, though the company declined to comment on specific individuals.

Following his reinstatement, Mullenweg characterized the event as a potential misunderstanding. He later joked on X that the incident was the fifth coup attempt at the company, suggesting that such events are a sign of hiring strong leaders.